Method of showcase ornamentation



June 1, 1937. A. VANDERVELD 2,082,563

METHOD OF SHOWCASE ORNAMENTATION Filed March 30, i936 I 1: Au) /JJ 2 1 VihJ/GWRT n n a @YVQ A ow s, s

Patented June 1 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE METHOD OF SHOWCASE ORNAMENTATION .Anthony Vanderveld, Grand Rapids, Mich, as-

signor to Grand Rapids Store Equipment Com- D y, Grand Rapids, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Application March 30, 1936, Serial No. 71,625

3 Claims.

This invention relates to showcase ornamentation, being particularly concerned with a novel method and means for selectively applying ornamental moldings of a desired or selected character to a showcase, particularly at the front thereof on a frame surrounding the front glass, the invention being more usually applied to the frontinasmuch as it is the part of the showcase which is most directly under the inspection of 10 a customer. It is, of course, to be understood that the means used and the method followed of applying ornamental molding strips is capable of use with other parts of the showcase, and other structures than showcases, and the invention is not to be limited in any respect as being applicable to showcases alone.

An understanding of the invention and th structure embodying the same may be had from the following description, taken in. connection 20 with the accompanying drawing, in which,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a showcase having my invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a perspective illustration of the three parts which are used in mounting and securing the ornamental molding in place.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary rear elevation, illustrating the connecting member which is used to releasably attach and secure the ornamental molding and which may be released when desired, to replace one molding with another of a diffeient ornamental character, and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section taken substantially centrally of the structure shown in Fig. 3.

35 Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different figures of the drawing.

The showcase illustrated may be of a conventional character having ends I, a front 2, a top frame 3 which surrounds a top glass 5, and a 40 front glass 5 which is within a surrounding frame made of upper and lower horizontal rails and Vertical end rails which are of a shallow channel form. Each of the rails may comprise a web 6 with outwardly extending spaced apart flanges 45 I, the longitudinal recess or groove between the channel I being adapted to receive the molding strip 8 which. at its outer ornamented face, will lie substantially flush with the outer edges of the flanges T.

50 The molding strips 8 are of a shape to enter and fill the longitudinal grooves in the outer faces of the channel shaped frame members, and the strips may have mitered corners so as to form a rectangular molding around the front glass 5.

55 The molding strips 8 are provided with a plurality of headed pins 9 at the rear sides thereof which pass through suitable spaced apart openings Ill in the webs 6 of the frame members previously described, whereby the heads 9 extend through the openings l9 and back of the web 6 of the channel frame members, as best shown in Fig. 4.

The ornamental molding strip associated with each bar 6 is secured in place by a flat elongated securing strip II of sheet metal. This securing strip ll is provided with a plurality of key-hole slots therein, one for each of the headed pins 9 on a molding strip 8 with which it is to be associated. Adjacent one end the key-hole slots comprise the wide slot portion I2 and the narrow slot portion I3. The next adjacent slot has a wide portion l2a which is shorter in length than the portion I2 of the first described slot, while the narrow part I3a. is of greater length than the narrow slot l3 first described. The next slot spaced therefrom has a widened portion I2b of still less length than the slot part I2a and a narrow slot I311. The narrow slot portions I3, l3a and l3b extend into and nearly through raised sections I4 stamped transversely in the securing plate II as shown, and at each side of the end key-hole slot last described there are outwardly extending detents I5 at opposite sides of the narrow slotted portion I3b as shown.

In applying the retaining or securing member in place the member is laid against the inner side of the web 6 with the heads or pins 9 in position to pass through the wider slot portions I2, 12a and IZb. It is necessary only to insure that the head 9 will pass through the slot portion I21), and then move the retaining member II longitudinally so that the shank on the pin. enters the beginning of the narrow slot I 3b. Thereafter it is not necessary to give further at tention to the engagement of such pin 9 with the key hole slot which contains the portions I21) and I3b.

Because the wider part I2a of the next adjacent slot is of a greater length, the head of the pin 9 associated therewith is still in a position to pass through the slot I2a after the shank of the first pin has passed into the narrow slot I312. Similarly the length of the wider part I2 of the first described slot is such that the head of the pin associated therewith may still pass therethrough after the shank of the pin 9 associated with the slot l2a|3a has entered the narrower part of the slot. Thus in applying the securing or retaining member it is necessary only to pay immediate attention to the engagement of one of the headed pins with one of the slots at one time. The securing member II is moved lengthwise until all of the shanks of the pins are in the respective narrow slots I3, l3a. and I31) and one of the headed pins has passed over the detents 15 as shown in Fig. 3. By this means a very quick and satisfactory secure atachment of the molding strips 3 may be attained and a complete molding frame, as shown in Fig. 1, placed around the glass 5 at the front of the show case.

The channel frame members are preferably of metal. Likewise, the molding strips 8 preferably will be of metal. At any time when it is desired to change the character of ornamentation applied to the case it can be very readily done by disconnecting the retaining member ll, removing the molding strips 8 which have been used and replace them with other strips which carry a different character of ornamentation.

The invention has proved Very practical and successful. While of a simple character it is of great utility particularly in stores where from time to time it may be desirable to change the appearance of the store furniture without the necessity of replacing the entire furniture units. As prer viously stated the invention is not limited to show cases though it has proven very desirable in connection therewith.

The invention is defined in the appended claims and is to be considered comprehensive of all forms of structure coming within their scope.

I claim: I

1. In a construction of the class described, an elongated supporting member, a plate located against said supporting member and having an outer ornamented face, headed pins attached to the rear side of the plate, said supporting member having openings through which said pins pass, and an elongated securing member provided with a key-hole slot for each headed pin, the longitudinal distances between each pin and the beginning of the restricted portion of the corresponding slot increasing in sequence along the elongated assembly.

2. In combination, a member having a plurality of spaced headed pins, a second member having a similar plurality of key-hole slots, the larger portions of the slots permitting the passage of the heads therethrough and the smaller portions receiving the pins proper but not permitting passage of the heads therethrough, the distances between the headed pins and the beginning of the restricted portions of their corresponding slots increasing along the construction in a direction parallel to the row of pins and key-hole slots.

3. In a structure of the class described, an elongated supporting member having a channel shape in cross section with outwardly extending spaced apart parallel flanges, a flat plate located against said supporting member between said flanges and having an outside ornamented face substantially flush with the outer edges of the flanges, headed pins connected to the rear side of said ornamented plate, said supporting member having openings through which the pins pass, and an elongated flat metal securing member provided with key-hole slots, through the wider portions of which the heads of said pins pass, the narrow portions of said slots receiving the shanks of said pins on movement of the securing member longitudinally in one direction, said key-hole slots from one end of the connecting and securing member to the other end having the wider portions of increasing length and the narrow portions of decreasing length, as and for the purposes specified.

ANTHONY VANDERVELD. 

